Match.



No. 781,972. PATENTED PEB. 7, 1905. E. THURN.

MATCH.

APPLIoATIoN FILED ooT.1,19o4.

Patented February '7, 1905.

iIIfEETCE..

EDIVIN THORN, OF UIIOA, NEW' YORK.

MATCH.

vGEIECIFICA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,972, datedFebruary '7, 1905.

Application filed October 1.1904. Serial No. 226.869.

Be it known that I, EDwIN TuoRN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Matches; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappcrtains to make and use the same. A

This invention relates to improvements in matches, and particularly tethe flexible type.

The object in view is the production of a match susceptible of assuminga compact form and being readily ignited.

'ith this and further objects in view the invention comprises a flexiblestrip of material and igniting means at various points intermediate thelength of said strip and means contiguous to each of said igniting meansfor effecting' ignition thereof.

It further comprises certain other novel constructions, combinations,and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I represents a top plan View of astrip of material embodying the features of the present invention. Fig.Q represents an edge view thereof. Fig. 3 represents a top plan view ofa slightly-modified form of the same. Fig. I represents an edge view ofthe structure disclosed in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a top plan view ofa further modification. Fig. 6 represents an edge view of the same. Fig.T represents a view in side elevation of a coil of matches embodying'the present invention.

In carrying out the present invention I preferably embody the same inthe form, as seen particularly in Figs. I, Q, and 7, of a continuousstrip I of inflammable flexible material of suitable width and folded atvarious points intermediate its length. Each of the said folds consists,preferably, of a bent or lapped-over portion Q, adhered, as at 3, to themain portion of the strip I, and a further bent portion el, extendingpast the bent portion Q, the continuation of the portion I constitntingthe remainder of the strip I. The

strip is preferably scored or weakened, as at 5, at the point of thebend between the portion 2 and the portion i.

The lap .2. as will be seen in the drawings, is bent back upon the stripI and at its forward end is provided with a rubbing-surface (i, whichmay consist of a roughencd portion. as sandpaper, or of a well-knownrubbing compound. At the rear end of the portion 4. upon its uppersurface, as at 7, is provided an igniting compound. which is adaptedwhen brought into Contact with the rublng-surfaec (i with sufficientvelocity to ignite either from the friction alone or by the compound ofchemicals, according tothe nature of igniting material employed. As manyof the laps 2 and return portions I may be formed in the length of thestrip I as may be desired, or, in other words, the length of each matchmay be whatever required and is determined by the distance between theseveral laps 2.

In operation the strip I when completed, as above described, ispreferably rolled into a disk, as seen in Fig. T, and when it is desiredto utilize one of the matches it is only necessary to grasp the disk,pressing the strip I just above the outermost lap Q, and pull upon theprojecting end of the strip I. The strain upon the projecting endproduces a severance at the score 5, and as the igniting material Tpasses the rubbing-surface (5 ignition occurs and the match isready foruse. A secondoperation may be performed in exactly the same manner.

It will thus be seen that the strip I is divided into a plurality ofsections of strip, each capable of use independently asa match, and thefront end of cach is overlamied b v an overlapping portion or flap frolnand carried by the preceding strip.

In Figs. 3 and I I have illustrated a slightlymodified form ofthepresent improved match, which consists of a strip of flexibleinflammable material S, which is made up of a number of relatively shortsections 8' 8, each of the sections 8 being secured at one end to thepreceding sections, the other end of course being secured to thesucceeding section. At the forward end of each section 8 is providedig'niting material 9, lying' beneath the overhanging end IO of the nextpreceding section,

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the said overhanging end 10 being provided on its under surface with arubbing-surface 11. The strip 8 may be rolled as described with respectto strip 1 and operated upon in substantially the same manner, theprojecting end of the llirst section 8 being grasped while the uppersurface of the overhanging portion 10 is pressed by the finger, and thestrain upon the projecting portion of the first section 8 will cause itsseverance from the preceding section, and longitudinal movement of thefirst section will cause igniting contact of the material 9 with thesurface 11. The only material difference between the structures seen inFigs. 1 and 2 and disclosed in Figs. 3 and L1 lies in the fact that thefirst-mentioned disclosure embodies a continuous unbroken strip foldedat various points, and the second-mentioned disclosure embodies asuccession of sections of strip secured together in such manner thattheir ends overlap.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have disclosed a further modification of the presentinvention, which involves a strip 12 made up of a succession ofrelatively short sections of strip 12 12, each of the said sectionsbeing connected to the preceding section by a strip 12. Each strip 12thus is adhered to the front end of one of the sections 12 and to therear end of the next preceding section 12. At the rear end of each ofthe sections 12 is provided suitable igniting material 13, arranged,preferably, on the under surface of said section, and each of the strips12 is formed with an overhanging portion 14 extending beyond andforwardly of the material 13, the front end of each of the overhangingportions 1A being provided with a rubbing-surface 15, adapted inoperation to be engaged by the igniting compound 13 when the section 12/is severed from the strip 12 and moved longitudinally, which severanceand longitudinal movement effect ignition of the section. Each section12 may be provided with scoring or otherwise suitably weakened at thepoint of severance for facilitating its disconnection from the strip 12.

Having thus fully described my invention` what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, isa 1. A device of the classdescribed comprising a strip of material, igniting means carried therebyat various points intermediate the length thereof, and means carried bythe strip contiguous to said igniting means for effecting ignitionthereof.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a strip of fiexiblematerlal adapted to be wound into a roll, igniting means at varlouspoints intermediate the length of said strip,

and means carried by the strip for effecting ignition of the ignitingmeans.

3. A strip of match material, comprising a plurality of sections, anoverlapping portion carried by one section and overhanging the other,and igniting means and means for effecting ignition arranged one on theoverlapping portion and the other on the section.

4. A match-strip comprising a plurality of sections of strip, a flap oroverhanging portion carried by one of said strips and overlapping theother, a rubbing-surface carried by said flap, and igniting meanscarried by the section of strip overlapped by the iiap.

5. A match-strip, comprising a plurality of sections, each provided withan overlapping portion overhanging the Y preceding section, and ignitingmeans and means for effecting ignition arranged one on the overlappingportion and the other on the section of strip overlapped.

6. A match-strip comprising a plurality ofv sections of strip, ignitingmeans carried by each of said sections, a iap over-hanging said ignitingmeans, and means carried by said liap for effecting ignition of theigniting means.

7. A match-strip, comprising a plurality of independent sectionsattached together, each with its rear end overlapping the front end ofthe preceding section, igniting means and means for effecting ignitionthereof arranged one on the over-hanging portion of each section and theother at the opposite end thereof.

8. A match-strip comprising a plurality of sections secured together inendwise relation, igniting means carried by each of said sections ofstrip near one end thereof, a fiap overhanging said igniting means, anda rubbing-surface carried by said liap.

9. A match-strip comprising a continuous strip of flexible materialfolded back upon itself at a plurality of points, and igniting means andmeans for effecting ignition thereof carried at the point of each ofsaid folds.

ln testimony whereof l hereunto afHX my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

EDWIN THORN.

Witnesses:

JOHN BRENNAN, E. M. CLARKE.

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